Career Outlook
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The demand in the job market for people with a Liberal Studies degree is stimulated by a growing need for skills associated with a liberal arts education. “According to studies from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers often rank skills such as critical thinking and communication—hallmarks of liberal arts training—above technical aptitude as essential for career readiness. Liberal arts study helps students develop strong foundational competencies,” says Paul Timmins, director of career services for the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. “It gives them tools to succeed beyond their first job.”” (From the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Outlook website) Because of it's broad curriculum, Liberal Studies prepares graduates for careers in many areas. Below is a list of careers for Liberal Studies majors by category. Note that some of the careers listed below require no, or minimal additional education beyond the bachelor’s degree, other careers require additional work experience or education. At the bottom of this page, you will find career forecast information for select careers, including projected growth and salaries. This information will be updated periodically to highlight new careers, so if these aren't the careers you're interested in, check back!
Advocacy
- HIV/AIDS Advocacy
- Volunteer Coordinator
- International Aid and Relief Organizations
- Fundraising/Development
- Advocate Case Manager
- Victim Advocate
- Family Services Advocate
Business
- Financial Services and Banking
- Customer Service
- Sales and Marketng
- Advertising and Public Relations
- Human Resources
- Project Management
Education
- Head Start programming
- After School programming
- Adult Education programming
- Librarian/Information Professional
- Teacher
- Guidance/School Counselor
- Family Life Educator
Media & Arts
- Journalism
- Frelance Writing
- Copy Writing
- Editing
- Broadcasting
- Media Sales
- Museum Curator or Manager
- Archivist
- Arts Programming
Law & Government
- Lawyer
- Lobbyist
- Policy Analyst
- Campaign Manager
- Special Interest Advocacy
- Legislative Assistant
- Probation Officer
- Police Office
Health & Social Services
- Counselor (Addiction, Domestic Violence, etc.)
- Social Worker
- Mental Health Services
- Family Intervention Specialist
- Crisis Hotline Services
- Military Family Support Specialist
- Occupational Therapist
- Nurse Practioner
- Speech-Language Pathologist
Career Forecast
The data listed below were obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Click on the O*NET link to search for careers not listed below, or click on a link below to obtain detailed information about the specific career, including: tasks, skills, knowledge, abilities necessary for success; typical work activities, styles and context; related occupations; and wages/employment trends. You can also use the O*NET site look for jobs based on ‘career cluster’ (occupations in the same field that require similar skills, like Human Services or Education and Training), ‘job family’ (occupations grouped together based on work performed, skills, education, training, and credentials), or ‘job zone’ (occupations organized by level of preparation needed) to search for jobs that utilize your interests, experience, skills, knowledge or work style. Check it out!
| Career | Growth | Median Annual Salary (nationwide/CA) |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriter | 5-9% (average) | $61,820/$74,100 |
| Librarian | 5-9% (average) | $58,520/$74,950 |
| Middle School Teacher | 5-9% (average) | $33,120/$40,450 |
| Guidance/School Counselor | 10-14% (faster than average) | $55,410/$62,790 |
| Health Educator | 15% (much faster than average) | $53,940/$54,780 |
| Addictions Counselor | 15% (much faster than average) | $46,740/$42,640 |
| Occupational Therapist | 15% (much faster than average) | $83,200/$93,380 |
Occupations are expected to grow rapidly in the next several years, or will have large numbers of job openings
Occupations will likely change as a result of the green economy. Green economy activities and technologies are increasing the demand for occupations, shaping the work and worker requirements needed for occupational performance, or generating new and emerging occupations.